Anna O'Keefe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

Editor: Here we have a promotional cigarette card featuring Anna O’Keefe, an actress, dating to sometime between 1890 and 1895. It's quite small, a delicate portrait almost sepia-toned. What stands out to you about this image, considering it was essentially an advertisement? Curator: Well, the fascinating thing is its context. These cards weren’t just about selling cigarettes; they were about selling a lifestyle, a connection to fame and beauty. Duke Cigarettes used these "Actor and Actresses" series to create desire, linking smoking to the glamorous world of the theatre. Do you see how Anna O'Keefe is presented? Editor: Yes, she looks quite poised, her gaze confident, almost inviting, and her presentation is clearly quite important to the message. Curator: Exactly! And consider the political implications. These cards circulated widely, shaping public perceptions of beauty and celebrity. The selection of actresses, their poses, their styling - it all reflects and reinforces specific social values of the time. The image of Anna O'Keefe on this card participated in a cultural dialogue, reinforcing ideas about women, fame, and consumerism. Do you think it matters that it was also consumed predominantly by men? Editor: It certainly adds another layer. I hadn't really considered how this tiny piece of advertising speaks to broader cultural trends of the time. I suppose it reveals how advertising became integral to social commentary and cultural values? Curator: Precisely. Something as seemingly trivial as a cigarette card can offer a window into the social and cultural landscape of a specific historical moment. It serves as a miniature, mass-produced piece of popular culture that played a surprisingly public role. Editor: This has been eye-opening; looking at this card I’d previously thought of it as mostly decorative, now I see it as such an artefact of its time.